Aladdin City: Construction to begin on Dubai Creek’s epic fantasy towers next year

Dubai is no stranger to outlandish architectural endeavors, and the latest project to get the go ahead will be no exception. Based on the tales of Aladdin and Sindbad, the 4,000 acre Aladdin City project will bring theatrical 34-storey towers to the city's oldest region, the Dubai Creek, and will be located just outside an area that is soon expected to receive UNESCO World Heritage status.

The 4,000 acre Aladdin City development will include six towers; three at a height of 34 storeys, and with a total built up area of 110,000 square meters, plus an additional three towers at 26 and 25 storeys. It will include hotel and commercial space, along with residential units to house 160,000 people. The towers, along with parking lots for 900 cars are to be interconnected by air-conditioned moving walkways that have been designed to represent the form of “exotic marine life such as dragon and snakes,” reports Emirates 24/7.

The curved glass towers themselves are certain to be iconic in their own right. Speaking to Dubai Events Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality explained: “The symbolic content of the architectural form of the project buildings was inspired by the ancient legends from the 11th century, where vessels were sailed from Dubai Creek to the coast of East Africa, India and China. It may have been here where the tales of Sindbad and Aladdin came from.”

Dubai Creek is itself a historic port which borders on the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Indeed, the Aladdin City development sits just outside an area which is pending designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Dubai Municipality has not made any statement of intent for environmental responsibility in the construction of the project beyond remaining outside of that specific sensitive area.

Initially announced in April 2014, construction will begin on the project next year; the total budget Aladdin City has not been revealed.